Tokyo Marathon

Established in 2007, the Tokyo Marathon is now 19 years old. From its first edition in Tokyo, it has evolved into a race that reflects the character of its host region in Japan.

Eliud Kipchoge etched their name into running history by setting the course record of 2:02:40 in 2024. That time places the Tokyo Marathon among the fastest courses in the world — a flat, fast stage where records are not just possible but expected.

Runners come to the Tokyo Marathon for one reason: personal bests. The flat, fast course through Tokyo has a reputation as a PB factory, with the roads seemingly designed to keep your pace honest and your splits consistent from start to finish.

As one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, the Tokyo Marathon occupies a place in the sport's highest tier. Completing all six Majors earns the coveted Six Star Medal — and for thousands of runners, this race in Tokyo is either the beginning or the culmination of that pilgrimage.

Getting into the Tokyo Marathon is a race before the race. The entry lottery draws far more applicants than available spots, and the notification email — accepted or rejected — has become an annual ritual that defines the running calendars of thousands.

With 38,000 finishers and spectators lining the course deep, the Tokyo Marathon generates an atmosphere that carries runners through the hard miles. The crowd support in Tokyo is not polite applause — it's visceral, personal, and often the difference between hitting the wall and breaking through it.

With over 2 million spectators and a culture of respect that extends to every aid station, the Tokyo Marathon has earned its reputation as the best-organized and most courteously supported major marathon. Volunteers bow to runners, spectators hold signs in multiple languages, and the course is spotlessly clean from start to finish.

Before 2007, Tokyo hosted an elite-only marathon. The decision to open it to mass participation transformed Japanese running culture. The lottery now receives over 300,000 applications for 38,000 spots — a 12% acceptance rate that makes it the hardest World Major to enter.